Tom Baker Voices The Doctor For Audio Dramas

After nearly 30 years away from the part, Tom Baker is returning to Doctor Who!  Baker has recorded five audio dramas that will be released by the BBC starting in September at a rate of one a month.  While I’m sure we’d all love to see Baker on the new television series, audio is really the more logical choice given Tom’s age and health. Tom Baker’s Doctor will be joined by former Who cast member Richard Franklin reprising his role as Mike Yates.

Here are the descriptions of each CD:

Doctor Who: Hornets’ Nest - The Stuff of Nightmares
‘Wanted: retired army Captain for light household duties and fireside companionship. Must tolerate mild eccentricity and strong scientific advice. Knowledge of Giant Maggots, Super Intelligent Spiders and Prehistoric Monsters a positive boon.’ Responding to an advert apparently worded for him alone, Captain Mike Yates (retired) is reunited with a ghost from the past. But why has the Doctor, that mysterious traveller in Time and Space, sent for his former UNIT acquaintance? Trapped by a horde of vicious creatures in an apparently innocuous English country cottage, the two old friends are on the brink of an enormous adventure. As the Doctor relates his recent escapades, it becomes clear to Mike that they - and the Earth at large - are facing an enemy of unimaginable power and horrific intent. The nightmare is only just beginning… With Tom Baker as the Doctor, Richard Franklin as Mike Yates, Susan Jameson as Mrs Wibbsey and Daniel Hill as Percy Noggins, The Stuff of Nightmares is the first of five linked stories written by the acclaimed Paul Magrs.
Release Date: September 3, 2009

Doctor Who: Hornets’ Nest - The Dead Shoes
What is so special about a pair of ballet shoes on display in Cromer’s Palace of Curios? When the Doctor meets Ernestina Scott there in 1932, they discover the horrific truth together. The second of five linked stories written by the acclaimed Paul Magrs, The Dead Shoes also features Susan Jameson, Clare Corbett and Christian Rodska.
Release Date:  October 8, 2009

Doctor Who: Hornets’ Nest - The Circus of Doom
In Blandford, 1832, ringmaster Antonio exerts a strange influence on the townsfolk. When the Doctor steps into the ring, he discovers that Antonio has some familiar demons of his own… The third of five linked stories written by the acclaimed Paul Magrs, The Circus of Doom also features Michael Maloney, Jilly Bond, Susie Riddell and Stephen Thorne.
Release Date: November 5, 2009

Doctor Who: Hornets’ Nest - A Sting in the Tale
In a bleak midwinter, an order of nuns protect their Mother Superior from ravaging dogs. But something is very wrong here indeed - and the Doctor is about to get badly stung. The fourth of five linked stories written by the acclaimed Paul Magrs, A Sting in the Tale also features Clare Corbett, Susie Riddell and Rula Lenska.
Release Date: December 3, 2009

Doctor Who: Hornets’ Nest - Hive of Horror
The Doctor and Mike must face their enemy in a final battle. They have an unwilling accomplice - and loyalties are about to be tested to the limit. The fifth of five linked stories written by the acclaimed Paul Magrs, Hive of Horror also features Susan Jameson and Rula Lenska
Release Date: December 3, 2009

Click here to read an interview with Paul Magrs over at Outpost Skaro where he covers writing the scripts and meeting Tom Baker. Paul Magrs has written several Doctor Who novels and audio dramas, and was a great choice as the author of these stories.  Magrs adventures tend to be large in scope and feature fantastical elements - very Tom Baker-esque stories.

A few online retailers are already taking pre-orders on these CDs.  For those of you here in the United States, I recommend Who North America for all your Doctor Who needs.  I’m not sure if they are taking pre-orders yet, but they have the best customer service of any online retailer hands-down.  You can visit their site by clicking here.  If you can’t find something you are looking for, drop them an e-mail.  They are very accommodating.

Strangely enough, there hasn’t been much press around Tom Baker’s return to Doctor Who.  Given his long-lasting popularity, you’d think there would have been more news already.  I suppose there will be more publicity as they get closer to the September release date.

On a personal note, I’m really psyched about this!  I can’t believe that after all these years Tom Baker has finally agreed to return to the part.  I can’t wait!

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Karen Gillan Cast As New ‘Doctor Who’ Companion

After months of rumors and endless speculation, the BBC has announced that 21-year-old actress Karen Gillan will be the new companion when “Doctor Who” returns for its fifth series next year.

Gillan appeared on “Doctor Who” in series four as one of the soothsayers in “The Fires of Pompeii.”

“The show is such a massive phenomenon. I can’t believe I am going to be a part of it,” Gillan said. “Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him. I can’t wait!”

“We saw some amazing actresses for this part, but when Karen came through the door the game was up,” said producer Stevan Moffat. “Funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it. A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too.”

There is no word yet on character details or the name of the new companion.

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‘Doctor Who’ Becomes Animated Series

We’re down to only three more on-screen appearances by David Tennant as the tenth Doctor.   And while the last three specials aren’t scheduled to air until later this year, fans can get a fix of the tenth Doctor in the fall when the BBC’s red button service will air the animated “Doctor Who” story, “Dreamland.”  The series will be seven episodes long and similar to last year’s “The Infinite Quest.”

Each episode will run about six minutes and star Tennant as the voice of the Doctor.  He’ll be joined by actress Georgia Moffett, Lisa Bowerman and David Warner according to the Den of Geek.

The story is by Phil Ford, the co-writer of the upcoming “The Waters of Mars” with Russell T. Davies.  Ford has also written scripts for “The Sarah Jane Adventures” and “Torchwood.”

And in a related “Doctor Who” story, Russell T. Davies is hinting that the tenth Doctor could guest star in an upcoming segement of “The Sarah Jane Adventures.”

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David Tennant To Quit Doctor Who

David Tennant announced that he will quit as the title character in the BBC’s Doctor Who, after becoming one of the most popular Time Lords in the history of the BBC science fiction show, the BBC reported.

Tennant stepped into the Tardis in 2005 and will leave the role after four special episodes are broadcast next year.

Tennant made the announcement after winning the outstanding drama performance prize at the National Television Awards. “When Doctor Who returns in 2010 it won’t be with me,” he said. (Tennant speaks about his time on the venerable show in a video on the BBC Web site.)

Rumors have already begun as to who will play the next incarnation of the Doctor, including Paterson Joseph, David Morrisey, James Nesbitt and John Simm.

Tennant, the 10th actor to play the Doctor, left fans guessing about his return at the end of the latest season. In the last episode, which aired in the United Kingdom in July, the Doctor had to defeat his enemies, the Daleks, to save the universe. Almost 10 million people watched as the Time Lord apparently started the process of regeneration–but did not complete it.

Tennant will appear in a Christmas special, titled “The Next Doctor,” before filming four more specials in January.

Source: Scifi Wire

Patrick Stewart Interested In Role On ‘Doctor Who’

Slice of Scifi has an interesting little bit of news about a possible role for Patrick Stewart on Doctor Who…

Patrick Stewart is enjoying working with David Tennant so much in the much-heralded stage production of “Hamlet,” that he has expressed an interest in guest-starring in an upcoming episode of “Doctor Who.”

According to Den of Geek, Stewart would be open to a role in the upcoming specials or series five. Rumors are springing up on-line that Stewart could play the Doctor’s old nemesis, the Meddling Monk, last seen during the William Hartnell era. Read more